Some of Japan’s oldest strata, created about 400 million years ago, is on the Suzaki Kaigan Coast.

Do you know that one of Japan’s oldest strata, created about 400 million years ago, can be found in the south-western part of Ehime Prefecture?
When you go west on the shore from Mikame-cho in Seiyo City, you will find a small cape sticking out to the sea.
This is the “Suzaki Kaigan Coast,” which has large precious strata from ancient times at the tip of the cape.

When you take the access road to the cape, you can find parking lots and toilets at the end of the road.
However, the entrance to the Suzaki Kaigan Coast promenade is located before the end of the access road, and you could easily miss it.
So, please look carefully for the entrance. It is a short walk back from the parking lot.

It’s about 10-minute walk to the shore after descending a steep stairway with 284 steps.
Then, you go along the shore on the promenade with a view of the calm Mikame Bay as you glance to your left.

When you look back, you can see the townscape of Mikame at the back of the inlet.
The continuous saw-tooth shaped coastline makes beautiful scenery, and the combination of clear sky and deep blue sea will refresh your mind, especially on a sunny day.

The Suzaki Kaigan Coast has a tremendous view of geologic history!

As you keep walking, it will take about 5 more minutes to reach to the tip of the cape – and then the atmosphere of the view dramatically changes.
Dynamic scenery, with a sheer precipitous cliff above your head, is waiting for you there.

When you turn on this narrow passage, you finally arrive at the end point of the promenade, the tip of the cape which is the highlight of the Suzaki Kaigan Coast.
You will be amazed by the presence of 2 gigantic rocks just offshore…!

The Suzaki Kaigan Coast belongs to “Shikoku Seiyo Geopark”.
This is a valuable spot where you can see up-close the strata created from volcanic ash about 400 million years ago, called the “Kurosegawa Zone”.

Isn’t the view superb, just like you are wandering the earth in ancient time…?
When you come to this place at low tide, you can see bedrock with unique shapes, just like fingernail scratches at the bottom of the sea.
Also, the strata with blue and yellow colored stripes stretch into the sea bottom, not only on shore.

Maybe you will realize how insignificant we humans are when you touch these strata which has been here for 400 million years with your hand…

As you know, ordinary strata are usually layered horizontally.
However, the strata on the Suzaki Kaigan Coast are perfectly vertical…!
These strata are much older than the Japanese Archipelago itself, which was created 250 million years ago. Therefore this is considered to be a part of a continent now far away from here.

Now you understand why the Suzaki Kaigan Coast is suitable to have been certified as part of a Geopark, where you can feel the dynamic breeze of the earth.

This huge rock just offshore is called “Mammoth Rock” and is one of the 100 strangely shaped rocks in Japan.
When you view this rock from the sea, it has the shape of a mammoth, and you can see a cavity separating the rock between its nose and body.

Actually, you can participate in “Geo Cruises” with touring boats or marine taxis departing from the port of Mikame Town allowing you to see the Suzaki Kaigan Coast from the sea.
If you have enough time during your visit, this option will be a special experience for you.

Also, please look for the scenery called “Reclining Kannon Bodhisattva”.
You can find a view resembling the Kannon Bodhisattva lying there when you view the coast from the shoreline on the other side.
Don’t miss it when you go to the Suzaki Kaigan Coast!

Photographs and text by Hironobu Matsuoka